Coke oven construction



Feb. 21, 1939. M D, CURRAN 2,148,107

COKE OVEN CONS TRUC'I ION Filed Aug. 3, 1956 3 SheetsSheet l JZaanbeflCurran,

WMMA Q 4 AM w Feb. 21, 1939. M D, CURRAN COKE OVEN CONSTRUCTION FiledAug. 8, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .9 in a xv Ma i u m vwmmww w Feb. 21,1939.

M. D. CURRAN' com; OVEN CONSTRUCTION 3 Shee ts-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8,1936 WW Q Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES COKE OVEN CONSTRUCTIONMaurice D. Curran, Glendale, Mo., assignor to Tar & Petroleum ProcessCompany, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application August 8, 1936, Serial No. 94,916

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to coke oven construction.

In the manufacture of coke it is sometimes desirable to use gas ofrelatively low B. t. u. value, such for example as blast furnace gas orproducer gas, in which case it is usual to preheat it before it reachesthe combustion chambers of the coke ovens. This preheating is preferablydone by means of regenerators cooperatively associated with the ovens.The utilization of the preheaters for preheating this low value gasehasthe serious objection that it complicates the brickwork construction ofthe ovens and also adds considerably to the expense of the installation.When leakage occurs, as for example when cracks in the brickworkdevelop, further difliculties are encountered.

It has been found from experience that the pier walls of coke ovensabsorb considerable heat from the adjacent flues, so much so that it isdifiicult to keep the brickwork of said piers from softening unless thevery highest grade of refractory is used. Certain examples of highgraderefractory have such different coefficients of expansion from the restof the oven that expansion strains present serious problems under theseconditions. Reference is made to applicant's copending applicationSerial No. 94,917.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction for cokeovens or the like in which the low B. t. u. gas is conducted through thepier walls to perform the dual function of cooling said walls andpreheating said gas.

A further object is to provide a construction for coke ovens or the likein which the pier walls are cooled and the gas is preheated without theattendant difficulty of cooling the combustion fiues of the oven.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view takenthrough a battery of coke ovens embodying the principles of the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken at right angles to the view shown inFigure 1, Figure 2 being taken along the plane indicated by the arrows2-2 of Fi e 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by thearrows 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 illustrates a detail of construction.

Referring first to Figure l, the numerals l l|l 0 indicate a pluralityof coke ovens arranged side by side to form a battery. Each of saidovens comprises a coking chamber ll having a horizontal floon I2 and aroof l3. The coking chambers are commonly of a height relatively small.compared to their width and length. Each of said chambers will beprovided with end doors 5 l5 and I6 through which the resulting coke maybe pushed out of the coking chambers. Each of said chambers will also beprovided with means (not shown) for charging coal and means forwithdrawing vapors and gases.

According to usual practice in the Knowles type of oven, such as thatillustrated in the drawings, a plurality of heating flues l'l--l'l aredisposed below the floor l2 of each oven in thermal communication withsaid floors. Said flues are de- 15 fined by the horizontal wall l8 andthe vertical walls I 9-! 9. Said horizontal wall l8 provides openings20-40 from the heating flues IT to the space below said fiues, saidopenings 2ll-20 being located adjacent to the end walls of each of 20the ovens. Disposed medially of each of the ovens is the vertical wall2| extending transversely of each of said ovens. Each of said medialwalls 2| extends downwardly from the horizontal wall l8 to thefoundations of the corresponding oven and divides the space below thewall l8 of each oven into two regenerative chambers, indicated by thenumerals 2m and 2lb. Extending from each end wall of each oven is thehorizontal partition wall 22 disposed below and in spaced relationshipwith the wall I8. Each of said walls 2222 at the region adjacent to thevertical wall 2| has an aperture 23 providing communication between theregion above and the region below the corresponding wall 22. Expressedin other language, the horizontal wall 22 at each end of each ovenprovides at U-shaped passageway or a hairpin passageway from a region atthe bottom of the oven adjacent to the end wall thereof to the medialregion of the oven and back adjacent to the end wall where communicationis had through the apertures 20 to the heating flues l1. According tothe usual practice, waste heat tunnels 24 are provided at the ends ofthe ovens, that is-extending longitudinally along the pusher f-side andthe coke side of the battery of ovens.

Downtakes 25-25 provide communication from the regenerative chambers ateach end of each oven with said waste heat tunnels.

The numeral 26 indicates generally a conduit extending through each ofthe pier walls I4. According to the illustrated embodiment of thepresent invention said conduit 26 is made up of two parallel branches,indicated by the numerals 26a and 26b. Said branches 26a and 28b are 10-cated at a point at which the gas flowing therethrough will absorbsuflicient heat from the material of the pier wall to protect said pierwall from overheating, but at the same time will not reduce thetemperature of said pier wall enough to affect the coking temperaturesof the floors of the ovens addacent to said pier walls. To this end theupper branch 26a of the conduit 28 is preferably, though notnecessarily, located below the level of the fiues lT-ll.

Referring now to Figure 4 for a preferred detail of construction of eachof the branches of the conduit 26, the branch 25a is indicated in theform of a round pipe encased between a pair of preformed blocks 21-2]having substantially semi-cylindrical grooves facing each other forreceiving said pipe 26a. The brickwork of the pier wall is indicated bythe numerals 28-28. By reason of the use of the preformed blocks 21-21,said blocks may fit closely around the pipe 26a and at the same time theremoval of the pipe in case of necessity and the replacement thereofwill be relatively simple. Inasmuch as the brickwork adjacent to theconduit 26 will in service be above red heat, heat will be transferredto the pipe 26a largely through radiation thereof, emphasizing thedesirability of making the space between the pipe 26a and the materialsurrounding said pipe as small as possible consistent with the ease ofmoving said pipe when necessary. By reason of the illustratedconstruction, the pipe 26a may be of relatively large size'withoutsacrificing ample support for the corresponding pier wall on each sideof said pipe. Any preferred means, may be used if desired to renderturbulent the flow of gas through each of the branches of the conduit26.

The present invention contemplates a construction eleminating the use ofvalves in positions-where they are likely to attain high temperatures.The numerals 23 and 30 indicate seal pots located at the two sides of abattery of ovens. Said seal pots are adapted to contain liquid, such forexample as water, oil or tar. Communicating with each of said seal potsis a pipe 3| connecting with a gas manifold 32, which gas manifold 32 isadapted to deliver gas through the gas inlets 33 to the heating fiues llof the ovens at the two ends thereof. Said pipe 3| at each side of thebattery of ovens extends toa region adjacent to the bottom of itscorresponding seal pot 29 or 30. Communicating with the top region ofeach seal pot 29 or 33 is the pipe 34 connecting with the branches ofthe conduit 26 at the two sides of the battery of ovens. Gas supplyheaders 35-3! communicate with said pipes 34-34. Cooperativelyassociated with each of the seal pots 23 and 30 is a pipe 38 forselectably draining one or the other of said seal pots 23 and 33 andselectably filling said seal pots.

In installations in which the gas passing from the pipes 34-34 throughthe pier walls l4 donot absorb the desired amount of heat from said pierwalls, the gas from said pipes 34-34 may be directed through passagewaysin intimate thermal communication with the regenerative chambers 2: and2lb. The drawings show looped passageways 34a forming part of theconduit 23 for conducting gas from each pipe 34 at each side of thebattery to the end region thereof, back to the sides of the battery,whence the gas passes longitudinally of the pier walls. Said passageways34a have been illustrated in the brickwork of the oven, but of coursethey may be located at other places in thermal communication with theregenerative chambers Ma and MD. The

passageways 34a at each side of the battery may be in parallel or inseries relationship with each other, as preferred.

, The mode of operation of the above described embodiment of the presentinvention will be clear without detailed explanation. When it is desiredto use gas of low B. t. u. value, such gas is preheated by passagethrough the passageways or conduit 26 in the pier walls, therebyaccomplishing the dual function of holding down the temperature in saidwalls and heating said gas. When it is desired to deliver gas to therighthand side of the battery of ovens as the parts are viewed in Figure2, the right-hand seal pct 30 will be emptied, gas will be admitted tothe lefthand header 35, and said gas will pass through the left-handlooped conduit 34a, thence in parallel through the passages 26a and 26bthrough the right-hand looped conduit 34a to pipe 34 and seal pot 30 tothe gas manifold 32 at the right side of the installation to the gasinlets 33. At this point it will .mix with the air, which air isdelivered from the right-hand tunnel 24 through the right-handregenerative chamber 2lb and opening 20 into contact with the gas fromthe right-hand inlet 33. Hot waste gases from the fiues I! will passoutwardly through the lefthand regenerator to the left-hand gas tunnel24. At this time the left-hand seal pct 29 is filled with liquid andcommunication therethrough is closed. Upon reversal of the oven theleft-hand seal pot 29 will be emptied and the right-hand seal pot 30will be filled with liquid. At this time communication will be cut 011'between the source of gas supply and the left-hand gas main 35. Underthese conditions communication will be opened from the gas supplythrough the righthand gas header 35, and gas will flow through theright-hand looped conduit 34, thence in a lefthand direction in parallelthrough the passages 26a and 26b to the left-hand looped conduit 34through the seal pct 23 to the manifold 32 at the left-hand side of theinstallation. At this point the gas for combustion will mix with airdelivered from the left-hand tunnel 24 and lefthand regenerative chamber2la. Under these conditions the waste gases will flow from the fiues I!through the' right-hand regenerator to the waste gas tunnel 24 at theright side of the installation.

By reason of thepresent invention, gas may be preheated and in beingheated take away the excess heat units from the pier walls, therebyprotecting the pier walls. Moreover, the hot gas can be effectivelycontrolled without the provision of valves in regions where they arelikely to become very hot. It will be understood, of course, that whenit is not desired to preheat the gas the branches of the conduit 26 maybe used merely for ventilation, air being delivered through saidconduit, being speeded up by any preferred means.

Though a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall withinthe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In combination, a battery of ovens, pier wallsbetween the ovens of said battery, each of said ovens having ahorizontalfioor and heating flues below said floor, said fiues extendingthroughout the length of said floor, gas supply means at the two ends ofsaid ovens, said pier walls being provided with passageways extendinglongitudinally thereof, gas inlet means communicating with said flues atthe two ends of said ovens, air supply means communicating with saidflues adjacent to said gas inlet means, and valve means for selectablycontrolling the flow of gas from said gas supply means through saidpassageways to the gas inlet means at the other end of said ovens.

2.,In combination, a battery of ovens, pier walls between the ovens ofsaid battery, each of said ovens having a horizontal floor and heatingflues below said floor, said flues extending throughout the length ofsaid floor, gas supply means at the two ends of said ovens, said pierwalls being provided with passageways extending longitudinally thereof,gas inlet means communieating with said flues at the two ends of saidovens, air supply means communicating with said flues adjacent to saidgas inlet means, and valve means for selectably controlling the flow ofgas from said gas supply means through said passageways to the gas inletmeans at the other end of said ovens, said passageways being located ata level below said floor.

' whereby to reverse the direction of flame propagation through saidflues.

'4. In an oven installation, in combination, a horizontal floor, fluesbelow said floor extending longitudinally of said oven installationthroughout the length thereof, pier walls for said oven installation,conduits extending through said pier walls longitudinally thereof, meansfor admitting gas to said flues, regenerator means for delivering air tosaid flues for mixture with said gas and for conducting products ofcombustion from said flues, said gas admitting means being located atthe two ends of said oven installation, gas supply means connected tosaid conduits at both ends of said conduits, and valve means at each endof said conduits, said valve means being located between thecorresponding gas supply means and the corresponding gas admitting meanswhereby the direction of gas flow through said conduits and thedirection of flame propagation through said flues may be controlled.

5. In an oven, in combination, a horizontal floor, flues below saidfloor throughout the length thereof, said oven having pier walls, aconduit extending through at least one of said pier walls longitudinallythereof, gas supply means connected to said conduit at the two ends ofsaid oven, gas inlet means communicating with said flues at the two endsof said oven, regenerator means for delivering air to said flues formixture with said gas and for conducting products of combustion fromsaid flues, and valve means between said gas supply means and said gasinlet means at-each end of said oven for selectably connecting said gassupply means to said gas inlet means.

6. In combination, a battery of' ovens, pier walls between the ovens ofsaid battery, each of said ovens having a horizontal floor and heatingflues below said floor extending throughout the length thereof, saidpier walls being provided with passageways extending longitudinallythereof,

and means for selectably directing gas through said passageways in onedirection or the other to one end or the other of said flues, said ovenshaving regenerative chambers cooperating with said flues. for deliveringair to said flues and for delivering products of combustion from saidflues, said passageways including portions in thermal communication withsaid chambers.

7. In combination, a battery of ovens, pier walls between the ovens ofsaid battery, each of said ovens having a horizontal floor and heat-'-ing flues below said floor extending throughout the length thereof, saidpier walls being provided with passageways extending longitudinallythereof, and means for selectably directing gas through said passagewaysin one direction or the other to one end or the other of said flues,said passageways being located at a level below said floors, said ovenshaving regenerative chambers cooperating with said flues for deliveringair to said fiues and for delivering products of combustion from saidflues, said passageways including portions in thermal communication withsaid chambers.

8. In combination, a battery of ovens, pier walls between the ovens ofsaid battery, each of said ovens having a horizontal floor and heatingflues below said floor extending throughout the length thereof, saidpier walls being provided with passageways extending longitudinallythereof, and means'for directing gas through said passageways to saidflues, said ovens having regenerative chambers cooperating with said,flues for delivering air to said flues for mixture with said gas and forconducting products of combustion from said flues, said passagewayshaving looped portions connected to said gas directing means anddisposed in thermal communication with said chambers.

MAURICE D. CURRAN.

